NEW WRINKLES HISTORY
OUR BEGINNINGS
The yearly New Wrinkles presentation at Fresno City College started in November 1988 with a
newspaper advertisement seeking seniors (age 55 plus) interested in performing in a senior
variety show. The initial meeting was intentionally held off campus in the community meeting
room of Manchester Center which also housed co-sponsor, Sears Roebuck.
Years later, the project coordinator and later director Tom Wright explained: “It was suggested I
hold the first meeting off campus so as not to intimidate interested seniors with the perceived
youthful surroundings of campus life.” Approximately forty five interested seniors attended that
first meeting. The following February (1989) auditions for the first show were held on the FCC
Campus. From that first year’s cast, two remaining members continue to be featured in the
current Wrinkles presentation.
New Wrinkles got its start as a community involvement for seniors under the auspicious of the
Sears Roebuck Company. In addition to Fresno, they selected three locations across the
country (Brainerd, Minnesota; Baltimore, Maryland; and Dallas, Texas) and provided “seed
money” for the first two years of production. In each of these locations this senior project was
known by a different name, with Fresno remaining as the only active company of senior
performers.
FIRST DIRECTOR TOM WRIGHT
In that first New Wrinkles’ outing, director Tom Wright assembled a group of talented
associates who would remain during his fourteen year directorial tenure. Area high school
music teacher and administrator Paul F. Anderson was the group’s choral director. Anderson
was also known for his direction of the area’s youthful, Lisle’s Boys Choir. Fresno City College’
s theatre faculty member Alex Molnar served as musical arranger and combo director with
elementary teacher Barbara Mendes as choreographer. Mrs. Mendes, the daughter of a show
business family learned tap dancing at an early age and continues to teach the art form at
present. Those first fourteen years saw genial Dick Cruse doing double duty as the show’s
creative co-scripter and Master of Ceremonies.
Looking back, Tom Wright noted: “once the word got out that the show wasn’t ‘Mickey Mouse’,
that is, old folks with kazoos, the interest and participation greatly increased. In the second
year show, there were 115 in the cast, as opposed to 76 in the first’s year’s show”. It ran for
two weekends and expanded to a three weekend run during the fourth year of the show.
In the program for the very first show May 26, 1989, director Wright greeted the theatre
firstnighters with the following revelation:
year 2007 New Wrinkles was selected by Fresno Bee Theatre Critic Donald Munro as one of
that year’s top 20 arts and cultural offerings
always been the home base for the New Wrinkles Shows.
The theme for the very first show was celebrating life’s maturing years; also known as poking
fun at old age. Since that time, the continuing challenge was to bring the audience a different
show and theme each year.
For example, the second year’s offering was a warm, affectionate tribute to the talents of Irving
Berlin; four years later broadway was saluted. In 1999, the seniors presented their bouncy
version of the soon-to-disappear 20th century. Other yearly presentations included a wonderful
remembrance of old time radio …… bringing a startling new insight of the medium to some of
the younger audience members. During his tenure, director Wright mounted shows that saluted
the country’s heroes; those of World War II and the Twin Towers attack.
After 14 years with the Company, Tom Wright retired in 2003. On January 9, 2011, just 6 days
shy of his 80th birthday, Mr. Wright died. The 2011 New Wrinkles presentation was dedicated
to his memory.
SECOND DIRECTOR FRED BOLOGNA
In spring of 2004, well known central valley theatrical director, choreographer and teacher,
Fred Bologna assumed the show’s directorial responsibilities.
Director Bologna studied dance in Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and London.
In addition to his teaching duties at the Roosevelt School of the Arts, Bologna served several
years and held prime leadership roles in the development of the Fresno Ballet. He is one of the
original members of the Good Company Players and since 1974 has been instrumental in many
of their productions. His other involvements in the area’s arts includes his service as Board
Member of the Meux Home Museum and serving as board president for the Fresno Ballet,
Fresno Arts Counsel and the National Society of Arts and Letters.
Joining Artistic Director Bologna as Musical Director and Vocal Coach was Dede Nibler, a
Fresno area musician with a background in public music education and community theatre.
Mrs. Nibler, retired after 30+ years in public education, had directed Voices United, an award
winning Sweet Adeline Chorus, since 1982; has received numerous awards for her
involvement in arts education; was the director of Roosevelt School of the Arts for eight years;
and has experience working with children’s theatre, church choirs, and quartet singing. She is
very active with the
Sweet Adeline International and state organizations and teaches and coaches music
internationally.
Creating Choreography for the Bologna-Nibler collaborations is long time area dancer and
teacher Judy Jo Wilson. Dancing since the age of five, Mrs. Wilson is a graduate of the
American School of Dance in Los Angeles and has operated Judy’s School of Dance in Clovis
since 1971.
Year fifteen of New Wrinkles saw the emergence of Nick Hammel as the show’s light-hearted
master of ceremonies. Hammel, who joined the New Wrinkles Company in 1995 was a bay area
showman and entertainer who relocated to Fresno in 1972 to pursue a college degree. His
business holdings in Fresno included a cocktail lounge and a floral shop. He often referred to
himself as a singing bar owner/businessman. After over seven years of recurring health
problems, Mr. Hammel died on March 6, 2008. That year’s show Wrinkles In Review was
dedicated to his memory.
THE THREE “R’s”
In approximately fourteen weeks from audition Saturday to the special opening night benefit,
the three R’s prevail: rehearsal, rehearsal and more rehearsal! The keyboard accompaniment
for the songs and the dances is repeated and rehearsed many times. The person serving as
rehearsal accompanist needs to be an extremely talented and extremely patient person. Since
2004 New Wrinkles has been most fortunate in obtaining several such talented and patient
musical artists.
For two of the Wrinkles shows’ (Welcome to the Sixties and Red Hot and Cole) Fresno native
and Fresno Pacific Graduate Mark Woods was the patient pro with a smile at the piano: an
attribute that may be attributed to being a Pastor of Music for twenty six years. Mark has
served as an adjunct faculty member for the Roosevelt School of the Arts and is currently a
private piano instructor and Music Director for Fowler Baptist Church. Mark also plays in a
Motor Cycle Band called Hog Heaven.
In the shows following Mr. Woods, bay area native and local music instructor Elena Tsuchiya
has provided many hours of rehearsal for five New Wrinkles shows. This classically trained
musician with over thirty five years of theatre performance often eased tryout anxiety with a
smile and a suggestion that resulted in an enhanced musical presentation.
For the 2011 New Wrinkles show, multi-talented Darryl Dote was the patient pro at the piano.
Mr. Dote started piano lessons at age 6 1/2 and is a graduate of the prestigious Orange
County High School of The Arts. Over the years his developing musical expertise has greatly
expanded, leading to increased opportunities in arranging, writing, and accompanist services.
Experiences which have afforded him the opportunity to collaborate and perform with many
recording artists in various venues throughout California. His musicality, which often included
delightfully unexpected comedic keyboard responses, brought us a chuckle and enhanced
appreciation of his talents.
Following the theme shows of Tom Wright, Fred Bologna brought forth additional theme ideas
with a sizzling salute to the sixties in 2006; a stylish tribute to the talents of Cole Porter in 2005
and a rollicking 2007 Broadway encounter with the talents of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
and Oscar Hammerstein II. New Wrinkles’ 20th presentation in the Spring of 2008 was a
retrospective of highlights from the previous 19 shows: WRINKLES IN REVIEW. The next year
that production was followed by a light-hearted look at Love And Marriage : For Better.... For
Worse. In 2010, Across The USA highlighted a joyful junket across our great country. And the
2011 theme was New Wrinkles Takes On Broadway.
FUN NOT FAME
From its earliest beginnings, the New Wrinkles Company has always been a multifaceted
family of seniors experiencing the energetic camaraderie involved in creating entertainment
excellence. Over the years, many talented seniors have assembled for the yearly shows. Life
long friendships have formed and endured. Each year sees the addition of new faces and,
sometimes for various reasons, the loss of some veteran performers. Each year, those who
gather in January: to sing, dance, memorize and interpret dialogue put together a show by the
last week in May. In three weekends, approximately seventeen performances are given. When
asked, some will tell you this is a commitment that keeps you young…..helps you forget (for a
while) the aches and pains that sometimes appear. For most, this yearly grind is the reunion of
a convivial extended family. No one is planning a show business career or looking for an agent.
As two of our original performers, Leah Bader and Betty High proclaimed in the New Wrinkles
Show of 1990: “We’re here for fun, not fame.”
This is the happiness that prevails throughout the company and is reflected time and time
again from audience members who at the end of each show greet us with: “You guys look like
you’re having so much fun up there.” We are! Backstage nervous jitters may appear, but
never in the spotlight. As in past years, the New Wrinkles Company continues its zeal to
present the pure pleasure of entertaining.
----Don La Mont
March 2008, updated February & July 2011
OUR BEGINNINGS
The yearly New Wrinkles presentation at Fresno City College started in November 1988 with a
newspaper advertisement seeking seniors (age 55 plus) interested in performing in a senior
variety show. The initial meeting was intentionally held off campus in the community meeting
room of Manchester Center which also housed co-sponsor, Sears Roebuck.
Years later, the project coordinator and later director Tom Wright explained: “It was suggested I
hold the first meeting off campus so as not to intimidate interested seniors with the perceived
youthful surroundings of campus life.” Approximately forty five interested seniors attended that
first meeting. The following February (1989) auditions for the first show were held on the FCC
Campus. From that first year’s cast, two remaining members continue to be featured in the
current Wrinkles presentation.
New Wrinkles got its start as a community involvement for seniors under the auspicious of the
Sears Roebuck Company. In addition to Fresno, they selected three locations across the
country (Brainerd, Minnesota; Baltimore, Maryland; and Dallas, Texas) and provided “seed
money” for the first two years of production. In each of these locations this senior project was
known by a different name, with Fresno remaining as the only active company of senior
performers.
FIRST DIRECTOR TOM WRIGHT
In that first New Wrinkles’ outing, director Tom Wright assembled a group of talented
associates who would remain during his fourteen year directorial tenure. Area high school
music teacher and administrator Paul F. Anderson was the group’s choral director. Anderson
was also known for his direction of the area’s youthful, Lisle’s Boys Choir. Fresno City College’
s theatre faculty member Alex Molnar served as musical arranger and combo director with
elementary teacher Barbara Mendes as choreographer. Mrs. Mendes, the daughter of a show
business family learned tap dancing at an early age and continues to teach the art form at
present. Those first fourteen years saw genial Dick Cruse doing double duty as the show’s
creative co-scripter and Master of Ceremonies.
Looking back, Tom Wright noted: “once the word got out that the show wasn’t ‘Mickey Mouse’,
that is, old folks with kazoos, the interest and participation greatly increased. In the second
year show, there were 115 in the cast, as opposed to 76 in the first’s year’s show”. It ran for
two weekends and expanded to a three weekend run during the fourth year of the show.
In the program for the very first show May 26, 1989, director Wright greeted the theatre
firstnighters with the following revelation:
- “we felt our show was a new concept for this area and a new connection between our
college life and the vast and growing world of senior citizenry. In other words a new
wrinkle in Fresno entertainment.”
year 2007 New Wrinkles was selected by Fresno Bee Theatre Critic Donald Munro as one of
that year’s top 20 arts and cultural offerings
- (EDITOR’S NOTE: Two other shows selected for the outstanding
Twenty list that year resulted from the current New Wrinkles director
Fred Bologna’s creative stagings of Beauty and the Beast and Thoroughly
Modern Millie )
always been the home base for the New Wrinkles Shows.
The theme for the very first show was celebrating life’s maturing years; also known as poking
fun at old age. Since that time, the continuing challenge was to bring the audience a different
show and theme each year.
For example, the second year’s offering was a warm, affectionate tribute to the talents of Irving
Berlin; four years later broadway was saluted. In 1999, the seniors presented their bouncy
version of the soon-to-disappear 20th century. Other yearly presentations included a wonderful
remembrance of old time radio …… bringing a startling new insight of the medium to some of
the younger audience members. During his tenure, director Wright mounted shows that saluted
the country’s heroes; those of World War II and the Twin Towers attack.
After 14 years with the Company, Tom Wright retired in 2003. On January 9, 2011, just 6 days
shy of his 80th birthday, Mr. Wright died. The 2011 New Wrinkles presentation was dedicated
to his memory.
SECOND DIRECTOR FRED BOLOGNA
In spring of 2004, well known central valley theatrical director, choreographer and teacher,
Fred Bologna assumed the show’s directorial responsibilities.
Director Bologna studied dance in Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and London.
In addition to his teaching duties at the Roosevelt School of the Arts, Bologna served several
years and held prime leadership roles in the development of the Fresno Ballet. He is one of the
original members of the Good Company Players and since 1974 has been instrumental in many
of their productions. His other involvements in the area’s arts includes his service as Board
Member of the Meux Home Museum and serving as board president for the Fresno Ballet,
Fresno Arts Counsel and the National Society of Arts and Letters.
Joining Artistic Director Bologna as Musical Director and Vocal Coach was Dede Nibler, a
Fresno area musician with a background in public music education and community theatre.
Mrs. Nibler, retired after 30+ years in public education, had directed Voices United, an award
winning Sweet Adeline Chorus, since 1982; has received numerous awards for her
involvement in arts education; was the director of Roosevelt School of the Arts for eight years;
and has experience working with children’s theatre, church choirs, and quartet singing. She is
very active with the
Sweet Adeline International and state organizations and teaches and coaches music
internationally.
Creating Choreography for the Bologna-Nibler collaborations is long time area dancer and
teacher Judy Jo Wilson. Dancing since the age of five, Mrs. Wilson is a graduate of the
American School of Dance in Los Angeles and has operated Judy’s School of Dance in Clovis
since 1971.
Year fifteen of New Wrinkles saw the emergence of Nick Hammel as the show’s light-hearted
master of ceremonies. Hammel, who joined the New Wrinkles Company in 1995 was a bay area
showman and entertainer who relocated to Fresno in 1972 to pursue a college degree. His
business holdings in Fresno included a cocktail lounge and a floral shop. He often referred to
himself as a singing bar owner/businessman. After over seven years of recurring health
problems, Mr. Hammel died on March 6, 2008. That year’s show Wrinkles In Review was
dedicated to his memory.
THE THREE “R’s”
In approximately fourteen weeks from audition Saturday to the special opening night benefit,
the three R’s prevail: rehearsal, rehearsal and more rehearsal! The keyboard accompaniment
for the songs and the dances is repeated and rehearsed many times. The person serving as
rehearsal accompanist needs to be an extremely talented and extremely patient person. Since
2004 New Wrinkles has been most fortunate in obtaining several such talented and patient
musical artists.
For two of the Wrinkles shows’ (Welcome to the Sixties and Red Hot and Cole) Fresno native
and Fresno Pacific Graduate Mark Woods was the patient pro with a smile at the piano: an
attribute that may be attributed to being a Pastor of Music for twenty six years. Mark has
served as an adjunct faculty member for the Roosevelt School of the Arts and is currently a
private piano instructor and Music Director for Fowler Baptist Church. Mark also plays in a
Motor Cycle Band called Hog Heaven.
In the shows following Mr. Woods, bay area native and local music instructor Elena Tsuchiya
has provided many hours of rehearsal for five New Wrinkles shows. This classically trained
musician with over thirty five years of theatre performance often eased tryout anxiety with a
smile and a suggestion that resulted in an enhanced musical presentation.
For the 2011 New Wrinkles show, multi-talented Darryl Dote was the patient pro at the piano.
Mr. Dote started piano lessons at age 6 1/2 and is a graduate of the prestigious Orange
County High School of The Arts. Over the years his developing musical expertise has greatly
expanded, leading to increased opportunities in arranging, writing, and accompanist services.
Experiences which have afforded him the opportunity to collaborate and perform with many
recording artists in various venues throughout California. His musicality, which often included
delightfully unexpected comedic keyboard responses, brought us a chuckle and enhanced
appreciation of his talents.
Following the theme shows of Tom Wright, Fred Bologna brought forth additional theme ideas
with a sizzling salute to the sixties in 2006; a stylish tribute to the talents of Cole Porter in 2005
and a rollicking 2007 Broadway encounter with the talents of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
and Oscar Hammerstein II. New Wrinkles’ 20th presentation in the Spring of 2008 was a
retrospective of highlights from the previous 19 shows: WRINKLES IN REVIEW. The next year
that production was followed by a light-hearted look at Love And Marriage : For Better.... For
Worse. In 2010, Across The USA highlighted a joyful junket across our great country. And the
2011 theme was New Wrinkles Takes On Broadway.
FUN NOT FAME
From its earliest beginnings, the New Wrinkles Company has always been a multifaceted
family of seniors experiencing the energetic camaraderie involved in creating entertainment
excellence. Over the years, many talented seniors have assembled for the yearly shows. Life
long friendships have formed and endured. Each year sees the addition of new faces and,
sometimes for various reasons, the loss of some veteran performers. Each year, those who
gather in January: to sing, dance, memorize and interpret dialogue put together a show by the
last week in May. In three weekends, approximately seventeen performances are given. When
asked, some will tell you this is a commitment that keeps you young…..helps you forget (for a
while) the aches and pains that sometimes appear. For most, this yearly grind is the reunion of
a convivial extended family. No one is planning a show business career or looking for an agent.
As two of our original performers, Leah Bader and Betty High proclaimed in the New Wrinkles
Show of 1990: “We’re here for fun, not fame.”
This is the happiness that prevails throughout the company and is reflected time and time
again from audience members who at the end of each show greet us with: “You guys look like
you’re having so much fun up there.” We are! Backstage nervous jitters may appear, but
never in the spotlight. As in past years, the New Wrinkles Company continues its zeal to
present the pure pleasure of entertaining.
----Don La Mont
March 2008, updated February & July 2011
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